Petraeus resigns as head of CIA

President Barack Obama on November 9, 2012 accepted the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus, praised him as as one of the most outstanding generals of his generation and expressed confidence that the intelligence agency would continue to thrive. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

In a statement sent to CIA staff, Petraeus said he had personally delivered a letter of resignation to President Barack Obama on Thursday, which was accepted on Friday.

"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair," Petraeus said. "Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."

Petreaus, who turned 60 this week, assumed leadership of America's fabled spy service in September 2011, replacing Leon Panetta, who became secretary of defense. He previously served as top commander in Afghanistan, head of U.S. Central Command, and top commander in Iraq.

Petraeus' wife, Holly Petraeus, is an official with the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A long-time military wife, she was appointed in 2011 as head of the agency's Office of Servicemember Affairs, which looks out for the financial interests of people in the armed services.

Petraeus and his wife have long had a seasonal boat house in Springfield, N.H., where Mrs. Petraeus' family lived for many years.

Petraeus is registered to vote in Springfield.

White House press secretary Jay Carney, who was holding his regular press briefing as news of the resignation broke, declined to offer any details. But in a statement released later Obama thanked Petraeus for his "extraordinary service."

"By any measure, he was one of the outstanding General officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end. As director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication and patriotism. By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger," he said.

Obama said he was confident the CIA would "continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission."